Half to chables e



(Nomodel.)

J. W. A SHBORN.

BDUGATORAND PUZZLILl 15104364.4652. Patented June 7, 1887.

n N, Pneus, mammogram Ya-hmmm n. c.

UNITED STATES VPATENT OFFICE.

J. VILSON ASHBORN, OF DANBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO CHARLES E. GRIFFING, OF SAME PLACE. y

EDUCATOR AND PUZZLE.

SPCPICATIN forming part of Letters Patent No. 364,465, dated .Tune 7l 1887.

(No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J. WILSON Asnnonn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Danbury, in the county of Fairiield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Puzzles and Educators; and I do hereby declare the following` to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertaihs to make and use the same.

My invention relates to that class of puzzles and educators which are formed of blocks adapted to be arranged in different ways, and particularly relates to that cla-ss in which pictures are divided in such manner that it requires ingenuity to properly replace them in their properposition after the picture has been taken apart.

My invention therefore consists of constructions and combinations, all as will hereinafter be described in the specification and pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure l represents a top plan view, the slide-stop partly removed and several of the blocks separated from the rest; Fig. 2, a transverse section on line .r x, Fig. l; Fig. 3, a de tail longitudinal section taken on line z z, Fig. l; Fig. 4, a perspective of one of the blocks, and Fig. 5 is a modiiication of the block.

A represents a frame having a central depression, A', provided with vertical and longitudinal T-shaped ribs a, which may be made of any suitable material.

In Fig. 2 the ribs are shown as made of wood; but it is obvious that metal may be bent into the same shape.

The object of the T-shaped ribs is to form ways for the blocks B, which are inserted be tween the ribs. To provide suitable space within the frame for the insertion of these blocks, the ribs are eut off within a short distance of the bottom of the space A', and to hold the blocks in place a slide-stop, A2, is provided. This slide has a lateral groove, o2, which iits upon the way e', formed in the frame... .A passage, a, is provided in one of the sides of the frame, so that the slide-stop can be entirely removed from the frame when it is de- 'be inserted between the ribs.

sired to shift blocks in all the rows. XVhen the blocks have been fixed in place, the slide is pushed in until its inner end abuts against the right-hand side of the frame and prevents displacement of the blocks.

In Fig. 4 is shown a block adapted to be employed when wooden ribs are used. The head is wider than the base, so that the latter will iit snugly between the ribs, and lateral grooves b are formed, so that the blocks can In such construction the edges ot' the head of the blocks will abut and presentan apparently unbroken surface when they are inserted in the frame.

If thin metallic ribs be used, a diii'erent form of blocks can be uscd-that shown in Fig. 5 being preferred. The grooves b are equidistant from the top and bottom. and the top and bottom can be used interchangcably-that is, the top may have one character and the bottom another. TheseA blocks may have separate parts of a picture, which parts, when joined, complete the same; or letters may be used instead oi' a picture, or pictures and letters may be used at the same time.

I am aware that a frame provided with grooves or ribs and having sliding blocks thereon is not new, and I do not'broadly claim the same; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of a frame having the space A', provided with vertical T-shaped ribs, and a way, a', sliding stop .A2, located at the bottom of the ribs, and having a lateral groove, a, to slide upon the way, and the l blocks B, having grooves I1, substantially as described.

2.` The combination of a frame having Vertical T-shaped ribs and a grooved block hav ying reversible top and bottom, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J. WILSON ASHBORN.

Witnesses:

WiLnUa F. ZENGHINGEE, CERIsrIAN QUIEN. 

